On my birthday, I got to try my first ever Greco-Fiano at Le Plonc Wine Bar in Mountain View. This white wine is from Campania (or Campagna), a region towards the top of the Italian boot. Being new to this wine, I was eager to do some research, which you’ll get to read about in this post. Thank you to wine.com, Into Wine, DiWineTaste, RudeWines and WineSearcher for their help with this article.
What Are Greco and Fiano?
These grapes are the most celebrated grapes of the Campania region. Greco is the oldest white grape variety in the region. It was brought to the area by ancient Greeks. Greco is a late-ripening variety that exhibits an invigorating mineral character reflecting the ancient volcanic chain that makes up the soil in this area. Greco also displays notes of fresh citrus, stone fruit, herb and spice. It’s light on the palate, with medium to full body and relatively high acidity.
Fiano is a nutty, textured variety with floral and honeyed notes and tropical fruit flavors like pineapple. It is a light- to medium-bodied wine.
Both grapes were originally used to make sweet wines and, in some cases, sparkling wines. But over the years, the grapes are used only used to make dry wines.
Greco and Fiano, along with Greco-Fiano, should be consumed young.
Pipoli Greco-Fiano Tasting Notes
The Pipoli Greco-Fiano wine is 60% Greco and 40% Fiano. I found it very refreshing, with a nice, long finish. It was a beautiful everyday drinking wine. The tasting notes describe it as a summery wine – something fun to drink in December. The notes go on to describe a pale yellow color, with floral, spicy pear notes, an almond-like quality and minerality. They say that, because of its high acidity, the wine calls for food. They recommend seafood and salads. The wine sells for $18.99.
But This Wine Doesn’t Taste Like It’s from the Boot
According to RudeWines, “The Pipoli Greco Fiano is not what you’d expect from a wine produced in the southernmost reaches of Italy’s boot. The hot (and mostly inland) region of Basilicata is best known for its heavy red wines made from the Aglianico grape, yet here we have a light, crisp, aromatic white which, if tasted blind, you’d probably put somewhere hundreds of kilometres further north. The answer’s in the soil, as always, and of course the altitude. Vigneti del Vulture’s vineyards are situated on the slopes of the long-extinct Mount Vulture, whose rich volcanic soils are the ideal bedding for late ripening Greco and Fiano grapes.”
They go on to say that “The higher altitude, with vineyards situated at up to 800m above sea level, makes for a later harvest… and a very long ripening season which allows the aromatic compounds of the grapes to develop fully, alongside a gentle crisp acidity. There’s an intense aroma of juicy peaches, fresh pineapple and honeysuckle, while the palate is light and soft, with flavours of peach sorbet, a gentle citrus acidity and a rounded finish with just a hint of sweetness. The flavours represent the sweet, ripe fruit of summer, along with the heady perfume of honeysuckle and jasmine.”
I hope I’ve influenced you to try Greco-Fianco.
Cheers!
As an independent wine consultant with WineShop At Home, I absolutely enjoy bringing a taste of the Napa wine country home to you one sip at a time. Whether you simply love to drink wine, seek a special personalized wine gift, or are in search of a new wine jobs opportunity as a wine consultant, feel free to contact me for a truly unique wine tasting experience!
WineShop At Home
